Solvothermal growth of diethylamine capped TiO₂ nanoparticles and functional properties

Size controlled anatase titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles with high surface area were prepared using diethylamine (DEA) as a passivating agent by simple hydrothermal growth. X-ray diffraction pattern revealed the formation of anatase crystal phase of TiO₂. There is no phase transformation for capped and uncapped TiO₂ nanoparticles. Ligand passivation on TiO₂ nanoparticles were confirmed by Fourier transform infra red studies. Significant UV–visible absorption is shown by absorption analysis. Uncapped and DEA capped TiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized and compared. Monodispersed cubic like morphology of DEA capped TiO₂ nanoparticles with an average size of 13 nm is observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis. TEM analysis confirms that agglomerations were restricted by adding DEA as a capping agent. DEA capped TiO₂ nanoparticles showed surface area of 65 m²/g and it is higher than uncapped TiO₂ nanoparticles as confirmed by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method. Prepared materials can be used as photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cell application.